Merry Christmas to all
My Christmas present to myself arrived today and now I can
start something that just happened (like I need another project)

When Gnine came about I thought how cute little trains for little trains
but not something I was interested in
But like many others it kept rolling around up in the space between my ear's
until it crashed headlong in to a plan and some other ideas up there
I digress....

Dearest Alwin.....
Hope all goes well with you just a short note to let you know about a new venture down here on the Coast
and to inquire about the possibility of a advance on next years disbursement

As you know now that the War is over people all over the world are getting back to a more normal life Raising family's,returning to work and everyday pleasures such as Gardening

Guano a important ingredient in fertilizer, is abundant here ..the cliffs above the ocean are filled with nesting seabirds .... and even we here in the backwater of Honduras know not to just steal eggs and feathers from them (I mean it's 1949)
The problem has always been transporting the sh... droppings to the Port
to far and rugged to pack or carry, economically non viable ...

Several months ago I saw in a old copy of Life Magazine a small railway in an amusement park we all had a laugh at it but then someone said "I bet you could lay tracks that small up to the Cliffs" and a idea's started being offered up
"A switchback up to the point"
"transfer to the MCTL at Hookers on the river"
"Revenue!!!"
Well arguing went on but finally we agreed,Old catalog's were perused
planning commenced and orders sent
Tractors from S Bennett ,wagons also, used skips from K&B
and rail and sleepers from scrappers
After the inevitable wait for the freighter to arrive
Crates were unloaded and work commenced and last some of the track work has arrived which means the plate layers can stop causing trouble
with the Mechanics
Here are some photos of the progress they've made

Idris
Ivor (Design stolen from S.Bennett)

Ivor & Idris

We've named them Idris & Ivor and for some reason little cartoons have appeared on shop walls (must clean off that rubbish)
None the less much work remains
Skips to re-gauge ,wagons to build,complete the loco's paint scheme,
grade the route ,build a platform and most likely a trestle

Sorry for being so long winded but I wanted to show you why the advance is important
Must go.. the Shop has fallen silent (not a good sign)

Dearest Alwin.....
Just a short note to Update you on some small amount of progress made..
The land at Hookers on the River has been purchased (from the H. Depot family)....
and a survey for the proposed interchange between the IGI and MCTL
has been carried out
Please find the inclosed photos for your review...

Work will commence (depending upon the advance spoken of earlier)
directly. As you are well aware this is the rainy season and we do expect some few setbacks but we will better gauge the height of the River now
Again timeliness is urged..

JoeLooks like a great track plan! I've noticed the H. Depot family has much land in pink and also in blue. I understand those lands are rich in styrofoam deposits. That could prove to be a lucrative secondary mining operation for you!!!

My Dear Chloe
After a laborious trip up the River by boat we've arrived at the
the Lodge for some fishing
It appears there is a great amount of work being done, it no longer is the sleepy collection of small shacks surrounding the quaint Lodge as before
The Railway has discovered some resource and are installing not only trackage to exploit it but extending the Coast line to carry it back to
the Port
I've sent some photo's for your pleasure

The locals seem to be working very hard and producing results
quickly (suprisingly)
The good point is possibly next year the work will be finished and it
mean a train journey to the Lodge
We will see you soon wish me good fishing

Took a dugout up to Hookers on the weekend
to check on what ever progress had been made...
(after organizing a crew at the Shop to fit out
one of our old Loco frames into some semblance
of a crane for the 9" line)
Was very Glad to discover much effort has gone into the earthwork
and the area appears to be suitable for platelaying...

Which will begin..... as soon as the crane is completed
I the meantime material can be shipped upriver to
facilitate speed

I am sending you photo's of the progress made over the Holiday in
hopes that you will feel compelled to release some more of my allotment
Knowing that you have been a friend of the Family besides Mother's solicitor
for these many years please do not let previous experience color your
decision on the andvance

Track laid

factory transfer platform & Engine house

Tipper dock

Hookers Tarpon Lodge

Overall view

As you can well see work is continuing at s feverish pace (no pun intended)
Please review my proposal once again
if the advance does not arrive we will be in dire straights

Had no idea such a crossing was ever made.
That's going to be quite a layout.
With a "living history"

later, Forrest Today's scientists have substituted mathematics for experiments, and they wander off through equation after equation, and eventually build a structure which has no relation to reality. -- Nikola Tesla, July, 1934

Going off at a tangent a bit On your original post, Sun Dec 27, there is a loco with an open frame bonnet in the background on the Ivor + Idris photo Have you got any more photos + details on the loco please